I should add that Agnes is a true speaker of our beautiful native tongue…..while I remain an imposter from the Pale uttering my scant phrases from distant plains where language of the oppressor still resounds……itself a beautiful language which has been adapted to suit our thinking ways,
I choose to remember that we were forced to speak it at the point of the sword, at the barrel of a gun ……..that mindset still exists today as they seek once more to impose their will upon us
Once Upon a Time there was
Irish Ways and Irish Laws
Villages of Irish Blood
Waking to the morning
Then the Vikings came around,
Turned us up and turned us down,
Started building boats and towns.
They tried to change our living,
Cromwell and his soldiers came,
Started centuries of shame,
But they could not make us turn.
We are a river flowing,
Again, again the soldiers came,
Burnt our houses, stole our grain,
Shot the farmers in their fields,
Working for a living,
Eight hundred years we have been down.
The secret of the water sound
Has kept the spirit of the man
Above the pain descending,
Today the struggle carries on,
I wonder will I live so long
To see the gates being opened up
To a people and their freedom,
……..from “Irish Ways,Irish Laws” by John Gibbs…….( on the album “Moving Hearts” 1981 )
For Birgit
“Grá mo croí mo cuisle dear” .. the love and pulse of my heart.
I’ll declare myself to the sacred heart..
Praying or honoring The Jesus on the wall with his heart sticking out of his chest …
CM go néirí leat anocht true story ..a few years ago.. I was mooching around a Dublin record shop. I managed to buy a Planxty record “The Well Below the Valley O” for my collection.
I walked out of the shop.. record in my hands and who did I spot across the street? Lord allmighty of all the people in this whole world …Donal Lunny..OMG I said to myself. I just have to tell this lad I just got this record.While walking across to him his phone rang and he answered it… so I said to myself. I’ll just stand here and wait .Well it went on and on ..He was talking for 20 minuets and I had a train to catch.I never got to tell him and I couldn’t really say hey get off the phone ..like ! It wouldn’t happen to be you he was talking to? OK a mhac bàn
CS (14)
Christy's reply
Fair play to you,
you beat me to it….
when I see such interaction on the site..its very purpose has been fulfilled…listeners from near & far chatting about the songs…helping out..keeping the process in motion..
we had a stellar night last night at Vicar Street in Dublin as we remembered our comrade Tim Martin…He who recorded so much of our work these past 30 years….his Family nominated the Irish Hospice Foundation for the proceeds…
Tim’s spirit permeated every song played ….his skill and his art will resound forever more within the thousands of recordings he engineered during a life committed to music
Apart from all that, he was great auld crack, he saw it for what it was,
as he would say himself..
“they do though,dont they, in anyways but “
Hi Christy,
funny to read my hometown’s name twice in your comment as I got the impression that Essen is not very well known abroad. But you’re doing your best to change that!
I’ve got a question about the lyrics you sing in Rob Corcoran’s “RInging that bell”: I’ve heard the song for the first time when you played it in December. I found it on the internet afterwards but must admit I’ve got a problem to understand some of the lyrics. I hope you can help me.
One is the line after “How I wish Justine was here” . I guess it’s at least partly Irish with “acushla deer” (?) at the end. But what is the first part? And the second one is the line after “I’ll make a start” . Would be great if you (or anyone who knows the answers 🙂 could tell me.
Hope to see you again soon – if not in Germany I’ll come back to Ireland.
Go raibh maith agat!
Birgit
Christy's reply
The full verse goes;
“still they keep on ringing the bell
as I count my coins for a bottle of glen
get a drink in me ,I’ll make a start
declare to god and the sacred heart
all them sanctamonious pricks out there
from Letterfrack to St Peter’s Square
from down the burning pits of hell
still they keep on ringing the bell” ….by Rob Corcoran
my version of Rob’s song will be released next November….Rob’s original version can be viewed on YouTube,heard on his album
Christy, was an privilege to meet you after 2 very special gigs in westport town hall.listening to you preform on your own, brought me back 25 yrs, it was storytelling at its purest form, with an enchanted sober audience…..hopefully you will return sometime, until then,go neiri an bothair leat, brian.
Christy's reply
the same as that Spuddy…my wife and I really enjoyed our visit to Westport
The nameless stateless one is called
Philippa Pordes.
Thank you it will make her night
I’ll buy the band a pint we can pretend we are in the Maldives.
👍👍
Christy's reply
getting info from you is extremely difficult !! never mind the pint..where in the world are ye from…makes the dedication more interesting for the other 900 people in the room….
Christy, no doubt that will be special, just yourself and Donal ?.
Was listening last night to The Blacksmith Andy and Donal 2009 you-tube. How many orchestras would it take play such fine music ?. Donal showing his full color.
Pure pleasure . God be kind to you both for being such an inspiration to so many.
Ride On.
John
Hey Christy, my dad, mum, husband and I are coming to Sligo to see you perform in a couple of months. Its a lifelong dream for my Dad who is eighty and not enjoying the best of health. Your music is such a big part of our lives and we are so looking forward to seeing you. I’ll remind you closer to the 15th of June, but would really appreciate a shout out to my dad Brian Murphy on the night. It would be the icing on his cake 🙂 thankyou, Julie OBrien
Ah so true Christy, there is an undercurrent a determination to play and succeed the Manchester way!! We are blessed with the finest here and as you quite rightly State the standard was set back in the 60’s with dad Felix Doran And many others! If you’ve lost your copy of dads album fear not it has recently been placed on iTunes not sure what dad would have made of that😂 Thanks for getting back Christy! Have a fantastic tour and check out dads album!
Hi, my dad and I are going to see you on 16th March in Killarney. We have been trying to go see you for a couple of years but we could never make it. Ideally though we are now getting to see you 2 weeks before dad’s 60th birthday. His name is Jimmy Murphy from Tralee and it would be brilliant if you could give him a shoutout for his birthday! 🙂 Looking forward to next Saturday! Deirdre
Hi ,
My Sister will be 50 in April . She is a huge fan of yours and has seen you hundreds of times. We gave her the choice of any holiday destination for her birthday gift. She chose Ireland so she could see you on May 10th at above hotel. I have to admit and I hope I don’t cause offence that I was a little disappointed as I was hoping for the Maldives. Do you do birthday shout outs or is that a bit cringe?
Thanks
Christy's reply
Perhaps if you shared your Sister’s name ..also her Country of residence…cant give a shout to and nameless stateless woman !! that would surely have a cringe factor !!!!
If I had a choice of playing with my band for 2 hours in Letterkenny / or going to Muldives I’d take the same option as your sister…
of course the band might opt to go with you to Meldoves.. in which case I’d be quite happy in Donegal singing to your sister
Dear Christy, It was indeed a memorable evening. You talking to Davy Spillane in the other half of the Baggot Inn. I asked you if you if I could show you a song, you replied, “ sure just a minute “. I wanting to catch the last bus approached you again and showed you the lyrics. You read and then asked me “if I had a melody”. When I finished singing you shouted into the other half of the Baggot, “ Donal get the recorder upstairs, this guy just gave me a song”. Declan asked me “ what’s up with Christy, what’s the song about ? “ I replied a short history of Ireland.
A few minutes later up in the little dressing room, the recorder on the table. Me on one side and Moving Hearts on the other. Once upon a time there was.
Half an hour later I was standing on the canal bridge dropping pebbles into the water and wondering if that had all happened .
Got the link to Love and Courage, Ruari Mc Kiernan. Great interview, more of a sitting room conversation, really enjoyed it. Glad you touched on Climate Change and Sharing. All the galaxies and stars. https://www.broadsheet.ie/2019/02/19/love-courage-and-christy/
Topsy-Turvy
The world is Topsy-Turvy
The weather is insane
One it’s dry and sunny
And the next day damp with rain
The other night I heard the wind
Go howling in the lane
And I thought the devil play
Before my window pain.
Last week a touch of springtime
The leaves they start to grow
They didn’t stand a monkeys chance
For the freeze came by to be
One night the moon was in the sky
A beauty glowing strong
The next day everything was white
And the next day it was gone
If we refuse to listen
To sweet Mother Natures shore
The beauty that she bore
Will hum her song no more
The only constant thing is change
And Mothers Natures song
If we can charm the wrong
Her beauty will flow on
The big tall factory chimneys
They vomit in the sky
The wind comes on and blows it on
To where the pastures lie
The rivers take the leftovers
And drag it to the sea
Then it’s on it’s way to everywhere
And nowhere can be free.
If we refuse to listen
To sweet Mother Natures shore
The beauty that she bore
Will hum her song no more
The only constant thing is change
And Mothers Natures song
If we can charm the wrong
Her beauty will flow on
With Kindest Regards
John
Christy's reply
I like your Topsy Turvey..
just shared that Baggott memory with Donal Lunny..he too remembers the moment he first heard your fine song…
we are playing a gig together this week, our first time to play together since Planxty re-union gigs in 2005…
Hello Christy,
Hope you are well. Browsing through your guestbook (what better to do on a wet and windy weekend) I loved to read how you reminisce about your German tours (in reply to Klaus) …
Glad your Solo shows went so well in lovely Westport!
We are already looking forward very much to your Sligo gigs in June, returning to the place where we saw you for the first time 36 years ago will be awesome!!!
Spring greetings,
Traudel
Christy's reply
well there you are Traudel..good to hear from you..we’ve had Sunshine and Snow here today
going to hear Albert Niland tonight
Hi Christy,
Back home and driving yesterday i was disappointed to hear Radio 4 reporting that Thatcher’s notes disclosed that she had tea with that bastion of the free world Barbara Cartland, but made no mention of ‘taking tea with Pinochet’. Perhaps the BBC are leaving it to your gigs to remind us of that more notable event involving the consumption of cucumber sandwiches ! Any chance of a rendition sometime?
Looking forward to the Tullamore show with Jayo Kinane, Cammy and El Grand Senor, no cucumber but some Dew instead for us that night perhaps.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
Well Rory, you landed back in one piece….you never cease to amaze me with your left of field requests,
“Taking Tea with Pinochet”..thanks for remembering it…I only ever performed it once and that was in the garden shed when I did some recording with Leo Pearson for the “Traveller” album…
I often think about the poss of gathering together an album of spoken verse….your morning note has me pondering again…however I have a few other projects currently on the stove which must take precedence over my bucket list….
the year is racing ahead of me, Tullamore is looming but I have few more fences to leap before turning into Offaly again
Just heard that BBC4 are running the Barrowland Film next weekend…just after Cheltenham, Bethlehem, Lourdes & Limerick Junction
You’ve met my cousin Dezi on a few occasions I believe and many years ago I think you may have bumped into my old fella the late Des Donnelly during your time in Manchester. I’ve been to the last couple of your concerts here in Manchester (Top drawer)Just to let you know traditional music is alive and well in Manchester and we’re very much looking forward to your visit👍
Regards
Des Donnelly Jnr
Christy's reply
Morra Des,
what a lovely surprise to hear from you…I do very well recall your late Father..I met him a few times in the 60s…there used to be a Sunday lunchtime session in Middleton that I visited with Mike Harding who was a great fan of Des’s beautiful playing….I used to have an LP of Des too..I can still the photo on the cover in my memory….I’ve also hear Dezi play a few times so the Donnelly Tradition lives on in safe and capable hands…Manchester has produced some great Traditional players over the recent decades….Morrissey, Marr and The Gallaghers have gained a lot of attention and infamy but,behind all the hype and shenanigans, the music of Des Donneely and Felix Doran still resounds pure and beautiful….Let The Music keep our Spirits High
Hi Christy hope all is well,did you get a chance to toss some pancakes,Brian came over for some tea and Bara brith before going over the pond,one more game of rugby for us,good luck tomorrow,up mandolin mountain we go,over and out from wales for now.
Christy's reply
This is the day the fisherman likes…and so do I
Big game looming next weekend…
Got a right feed of pancakes last Tuesday in Westport County Mayo
Had to let the belt out a notch before going on stage..
Point taken Christy, apologies to any sisters who may have been offended by my unintentional faux pas, this world of political correctness is a right minefield
Christy's reply
Dear John,
No apology required, I was only having a bit of craic….compadre or comadre,all welcome here….
my first tussle with the PC brigade was in Manchester in 1969. Apres gig I was confronted by a tuft who had taken offence at
“a dark girl towards me came”( from The Lakes of Pontchartrain).
50 years on my most recent tussle came after singing Weekend in Amsterdam
“Dinny danced all night with a South American Transvestite
everythin was going grand ’til Dinny tried to drop the hand”
Other songs that have raised PC heckles include “Lawless” “Me & The Rose” “Lisdoonvarna” “Joxer”
I must confess to a smidgin of satisfaction when songs elicit debate
Hi Christy, hope all are doing well , , I am preparing for St Patrick’s arrival, these past few years I have found great joy in learning Little Musgrave, it’s imagine plays like a movie, I’ve learned to find places that love the music more than the till, if ye get me drift, below is a song from Tony Reidy, called the bodhran song. The song is very funny and I think you might like it , for I have brought my goatskin to many a session, only to be locked in the gacks . I got the rhythm eventually when I found the well, and John Reilys music, My guitars are almost 30 years old and they have guided me along the road, great comfort and joy, Donald Duck is on the muck,
Oh I pity the poor emigrants
As you said yourself, we all belong here,
Simple and true, always wins
Take care Christy, all the best Fin
Ps I met Bill McIlaney on the cape , he wrote a lovely song about the Quinn Children who were burnt to death in their home, during the Marching season all those years ago, let us never forget
Morra Fin,
all good here Thanks Be….
The funniest Bowrawn song has to be Pat Quinns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iazFmjKncKo
in fact, all his songs are gems….his Angelina Jolie bears repeated listening…I have covered his Lingo Poitico
hard to believe its 30 years since you got your TAK
always good to hear from you
still slaving over a hot guitar here, staying well clear of the dusty end,
Hi Christy, as a proud male 4711er I would like to wish all our female compadres the very best for International Womens Day, with a special mention for the queen of the kingdom?
Christy's reply
jasus John you are taking your life in your hands inserting that “p” into comadre on the day thats in it….whilst some of our Sisters are dacent understanding citizens there do be a few militants lurking who can find offence in such minor unintended ( but deemed to be misogynisctic ) insertions..it being that particular letter could easily add marrafin to their ire
Christy & gang,
Thank you for last night, it was nothing short of beautiful.
A really nice touch.
Tim Martin…
always remembered
Thanks Aisling
@Agnes: Thank you for your help!!!
” Bright Love of my Heart,dear Heartbeat”
I should add that Agnes is a true speaker of our beautiful native tongue…..while I remain an imposter from the Pale uttering my scant phrases from distant plains where language of the oppressor still resounds……itself a beautiful language which has been adapted to suit our thinking ways,
I choose to remember that we were forced to speak it at the point of the sword, at the barrel of a gun ……..that mindset still exists today as they seek once more to impose their will upon us
Once Upon a Time there was
Irish Ways and Irish Laws
Villages of Irish Blood
Waking to the morning
Then the Vikings came around,
Turned us up and turned us down,
Started building boats and towns.
They tried to change our living,
Cromwell and his soldiers came,
Started centuries of shame,
But they could not make us turn.
We are a river flowing,
Again, again the soldiers came,
Burnt our houses, stole our grain,
Shot the farmers in their fields,
Working for a living,
Eight hundred years we have been down.
The secret of the water sound
Has kept the spirit of the man
Above the pain descending,
Today the struggle carries on,
I wonder will I live so long
To see the gates being opened up
To a people and their freedom,
……..from “Irish Ways,Irish Laws” by John Gibbs…….( on the album “Moving Hearts” 1981 )
For Birgit
“Grá mo croí mo cuisle dear” .. the love and pulse of my heart.
I’ll declare myself to the sacred heart..
Praying or honoring The Jesus on the wall with his heart sticking out of his chest …
CM go néirí leat anocht true story ..a few years ago.. I was mooching around a Dublin record shop. I managed to buy a Planxty record “The Well Below the Valley O” for my collection.
I walked out of the shop.. record in my hands and who did I spot across the street? Lord allmighty of all the people in this whole world …Donal Lunny..OMG I said to myself. I just have to tell this lad I just got this record.While walking across to him his phone rang and he answered it… so I said to myself. I’ll just stand here and wait .Well it went on and on ..He was talking for 20 minuets and I had a train to catch.I never got to tell him and I couldn’t really say hey get off the phone ..like ! It wouldn’t happen to be you he was talking to? OK a mhac bàn
CS (14)
Fair play to you,
you beat me to it….
when I see such interaction on the site..its very purpose has been fulfilled…listeners from near & far chatting about the songs…helping out..keeping the process in motion..
we had a stellar night last night at Vicar Street in Dublin as we remembered our comrade Tim Martin…He who recorded so much of our work these past 30 years….his Family nominated the Irish Hospice Foundation for the proceeds…
Tim’s spirit permeated every song played ….his skill and his art will resound forever more within the thousands of recordings he engineered during a life committed to music
Apart from all that, he was great auld crack, he saw it for what it was,
as he would say himself..
“they do though,dont they, in anyways but “
The sorrows of being a destitute, indentured servant in the US, in the days gone by.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqOgWngL5aY
hope to view in due course…
busy days here just now
but thank you for sharing
Hi Christy,
funny to read my hometown’s name twice in your comment as I got the impression that Essen is not very well known abroad. But you’re doing your best to change that!
I’ve got a question about the lyrics you sing in Rob Corcoran’s “RInging that bell”: I’ve heard the song for the first time when you played it in December. I found it on the internet afterwards but must admit I’ve got a problem to understand some of the lyrics. I hope you can help me.
One is the line after “How I wish Justine was here” . I guess it’s at least partly Irish with “acushla deer” (?) at the end. But what is the first part? And the second one is the line after “I’ll make a start” . Would be great if you (or anyone who knows the answers 🙂 could tell me.
Hope to see you again soon – if not in Germany I’ll come back to Ireland.
Go raibh maith agat!
Birgit
The full verse goes;
“still they keep on ringing the bell
as I count my coins for a bottle of glen
get a drink in me ,I’ll make a start
declare to god and the sacred heart
all them sanctamonious pricks out there
from Letterfrack to St Peter’s Square
from down the burning pits of hell
still they keep on ringing the bell” ….by Rob Corcoran
my version of Rob’s song will be released next November….Rob’s original version can be viewed on YouTube,heard on his album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whY9k7UdMgI
….I have made a few minor changes with Rob’s permission
Christy, was an privilege to meet you after 2 very special gigs in westport town hall.listening to you preform on your own, brought me back 25 yrs, it was storytelling at its purest form, with an enchanted sober audience…..hopefully you will return sometime, until then,go neiri an bothair leat, brian.
the same as that Spuddy…my wife and I really enjoyed our visit to Westport
The nameless stateless one is called
Philippa Pordes.
Thank you it will make her night
I’ll buy the band a pint we can pretend we are in the Maldives.
👍👍
getting info from you is extremely difficult !! never mind the pint..where in the world are ye from…makes the dedication more interesting for the other 900 people in the room….
Christy, no doubt that will be special, just yourself and Donal ?.
Was listening last night to The Blacksmith Andy and Donal 2009 you-tube. How many orchestras would it take play such fine music ?. Donal showing his full color.
Pure pleasure . God be kind to you both for being such an inspiration to so many.
Ride On.
John
Hey Christy, my dad, mum, husband and I are coming to Sligo to see you perform in a couple of months. Its a lifelong dream for my Dad who is eighty and not enjoying the best of health. Your music is such a big part of our lives and we are so looking forward to seeing you. I’ll remind you closer to the 15th of June, but would really appreciate a shout out to my dad Brian Murphy on the night. It would be the icing on his cake 🙂 thankyou, Julie OBrien
Ah so true Christy, there is an undercurrent a determination to play and succeed the Manchester way!! We are blessed with the finest here and as you quite rightly State the standard was set back in the 60’s with dad Felix Doran And many others! If you’ve lost your copy of dads album fear not it has recently been placed on iTunes not sure what dad would have made of that😂 Thanks for getting back Christy! Have a fantastic tour and check out dads album!
All the best
Des D
Hi, my dad and I are going to see you on 16th March in Killarney. We have been trying to go see you for a couple of years but we could never make it. Ideally though we are now getting to see you 2 weeks before dad’s 60th birthday. His name is Jimmy Murphy from Tralee and it would be brilliant if you could give him a shoutout for his birthday! 🙂 Looking forward to next Saturday! Deirdre
Hi ,
My Sister will be 50 in April . She is a huge fan of yours and has seen you hundreds of times. We gave her the choice of any holiday destination for her birthday gift. She chose Ireland so she could see you on May 10th at above hotel. I have to admit and I hope I don’t cause offence that I was a little disappointed as I was hoping for the Maldives. Do you do birthday shout outs or is that a bit cringe?
Thanks
Perhaps if you shared your Sister’s name ..also her Country of residence…cant give a shout to and nameless stateless woman !! that would surely have a cringe factor !!!!
If I had a choice of playing with my band for 2 hours in Letterkenny / or going to Muldives I’d take the same option as your sister…
of course the band might opt to go with you to Meldoves.. in which case I’d be quite happy in Donegal singing to your sister
Dear Christy, It was indeed a memorable evening. You talking to Davy Spillane in the other half of the Baggot Inn. I asked you if you if I could show you a song, you replied, “ sure just a minute “. I wanting to catch the last bus approached you again and showed you the lyrics. You read and then asked me “if I had a melody”. When I finished singing you shouted into the other half of the Baggot, “ Donal get the recorder upstairs, this guy just gave me a song”. Declan asked me “ what’s up with Christy, what’s the song about ? “ I replied a short history of Ireland.
A few minutes later up in the little dressing room, the recorder on the table. Me on one side and Moving Hearts on the other. Once upon a time there was.
Half an hour later I was standing on the canal bridge dropping pebbles into the water and wondering if that had all happened .
Got the link to Love and Courage, Ruari Mc Kiernan. Great interview, more of a sitting room conversation, really enjoyed it. Glad you touched on Climate Change and Sharing. All the galaxies and stars.
https://www.broadsheet.ie/2019/02/19/love-courage-and-christy/
Topsy-Turvy
The world is Topsy-Turvy
The weather is insane
One it’s dry and sunny
And the next day damp with rain
The other night I heard the wind
Go howling in the lane
And I thought the devil play
Before my window pain.
Last week a touch of springtime
The leaves they start to grow
They didn’t stand a monkeys chance
For the freeze came by to be
One night the moon was in the sky
A beauty glowing strong
The next day everything was white
And the next day it was gone
If we refuse to listen
To sweet Mother Natures shore
The beauty that she bore
Will hum her song no more
The only constant thing is change
And Mothers Natures song
If we can charm the wrong
Her beauty will flow on
The big tall factory chimneys
They vomit in the sky
The wind comes on and blows it on
To where the pastures lie
The rivers take the leftovers
And drag it to the sea
Then it’s on it’s way to everywhere
And nowhere can be free.
If we refuse to listen
To sweet Mother Natures shore
The beauty that she bore
Will hum her song no more
The only constant thing is change
And Mothers Natures song
If we can charm the wrong
Her beauty will flow on
With Kindest Regards
John
I like your Topsy Turvey..
just shared that Baggott memory with Donal Lunny..he too remembers the moment he first heard your fine song…
we are playing a gig together this week, our first time to play together since Planxty re-union gigs in 2005…
“Once upon a time there was “
Hello Christy,
Hope you are well. Browsing through your guestbook (what better to do on a wet and windy weekend) I loved to read how you reminisce about your German tours (in reply to Klaus) …
Glad your Solo shows went so well in lovely Westport!
We are already looking forward very much to your Sligo gigs in June, returning to the place where we saw you for the first time 36 years ago will be awesome!!!
Spring greetings,
Traudel
well there you are Traudel..good to hear from you..we’ve had Sunshine and Snow here today
going to hear Albert Niland tonight
Hi Christy,
Back home and driving yesterday i was disappointed to hear Radio 4 reporting that Thatcher’s notes disclosed that she had tea with that bastion of the free world Barbara Cartland, but made no mention of ‘taking tea with Pinochet’. Perhaps the BBC are leaving it to your gigs to remind us of that more notable event involving the consumption of cucumber sandwiches ! Any chance of a rendition sometime?
Looking forward to the Tullamore show with Jayo Kinane, Cammy and El Grand Senor, no cucumber but some Dew instead for us that night perhaps.
Regards
Rory
Well Rory, you landed back in one piece….you never cease to amaze me with your left of field requests,
“Taking Tea with Pinochet”..thanks for remembering it…I only ever performed it once and that was in the garden shed when I did some recording with Leo Pearson for the “Traveller” album…
I often think about the poss of gathering together an album of spoken verse….your morning note has me pondering again…however I have a few other projects currently on the stove which must take precedence over my bucket list….
the year is racing ahead of me, Tullamore is looming but I have few more fences to leap before turning into Offaly again
Just heard that BBC4 are running the Barrowland Film next weekend…just after Cheltenham, Bethlehem, Lourdes & Limerick Junction
Good evening Christy,
You’ve met my cousin Dezi on a few occasions I believe and many years ago I think you may have bumped into my old fella the late Des Donnelly during your time in Manchester. I’ve been to the last couple of your concerts here in Manchester (Top drawer)Just to let you know traditional music is alive and well in Manchester and we’re very much looking forward to your visit👍
Regards
Des Donnelly Jnr
Morra Des,
what a lovely surprise to hear from you…I do very well recall your late Father..I met him a few times in the 60s…there used to be a Sunday lunchtime session in Middleton that I visited with Mike Harding who was a great fan of Des’s beautiful playing….I used to have an LP of Des too..I can still the photo on the cover in my memory….I’ve also hear Dezi play a few times so the Donnelly Tradition lives on in safe and capable hands…Manchester has produced some great Traditional players over the recent decades….Morrissey, Marr and The Gallaghers have gained a lot of attention and infamy but,behind all the hype and shenanigans, the music of Des Donneely and Felix Doran still resounds pure and beautiful….Let The Music keep our Spirits High
Hi Christy hope all is well,did you get a chance to toss some pancakes,Brian came over for some tea and Bara brith before going over the pond,one more game of rugby for us,good luck tomorrow,up mandolin mountain we go,over and out from wales for now.
This is the day the fisherman likes…and so do I
Big game looming next weekend…
Got a right feed of pancakes last Tuesday in Westport County Mayo
Had to let the belt out a notch before going on stage..
Point taken Christy, apologies to any sisters who may have been offended by my unintentional faux pas, this world of political correctness is a right minefield
Dear John,
No apology required, I was only having a bit of craic….compadre or comadre,all welcome here….
my first tussle with the PC brigade was in Manchester in 1969. Apres gig I was confronted by a tuft who had taken offence at
“a dark girl towards me came”( from The Lakes of Pontchartrain).
50 years on my most recent tussle came after singing Weekend in Amsterdam
“Dinny danced all night with a South American Transvestite
everythin was going grand ’til Dinny tried to drop the hand”
Other songs that have raised PC heckles include “Lawless” “Me & The Rose” “Lisdoonvarna” “Joxer”
I must confess to a smidgin of satisfaction when songs elicit debate
one of my favourite responses came from a Showband called Script… they took offence at a song called “Arthur’s Day” a few years back…
https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/script-frontman-danny-odonoghue-hits-2301209
Hi Christy, hope all are doing well , , I am preparing for St Patrick’s arrival, these past few years I have found great joy in learning Little Musgrave, it’s imagine plays like a movie, I’ve learned to find places that love the music more than the till, if ye get me drift, below is a song from Tony Reidy, called the bodhran song. The song is very funny and I think you might like it , for I have brought my goatskin to many a session, only to be locked in the gacks . I got the rhythm eventually when I found the well, and John Reilys music, My guitars are almost 30 years old and they have guided me along the road, great comfort and joy, Donald Duck is on the muck,
Oh I pity the poor emigrants
As you said yourself, we all belong here,
Simple and true, always wins
Take care Christy, all the best Fin
Ps I met Bill McIlaney on the cape , he wrote a lovely song about the Quinn Children who were burnt to death in their home, during the Marching season all those years ago, let us never forget
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv3cV_GI14g
Morra Fin,
all good here Thanks Be….
The funniest Bowrawn song has to be Pat Quinns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iazFmjKncKo
in fact, all his songs are gems….his Angelina Jolie bears repeated listening…I have covered his Lingo Poitico
hard to believe its 30 years since you got your TAK
always good to hear from you
still slaving over a hot guitar here, staying well clear of the dusty end,
Hi Christy, as a proud male 4711er I would like to wish all our female compadres the very best for International Womens Day, with a special mention for the queen of the kingdom?
jasus John you are taking your life in your hands inserting that “p” into comadre on the day thats in it….whilst some of our Sisters are dacent understanding citizens there do be a few militants lurking who can find offence in such minor unintended ( but deemed to be misogynisctic ) insertions..it being that particular letter could easily add marrafin to their ire
greetings from the Banks of our snot green Liffey